Reviews

BFI IMAX in Waterloo No one really talks about the "struggle" that fans of Japanese Cinema, like myself, go through by being fans outside of Japan. This experience is often overlooked, yet it is a nuanced topic that deserves attention and deeper exploration. While I fully acknowledge that this may fall under the category of "first-world problems," the challenges faced by international fans of Japanese films are multifaceted and can significantly impact our engagement with thi

When most people think of Japanese cinema, the same few names tend to come up: Akira Kurosawa, Hayao Miyazaki, Yasujiro Ozu. These are masters in their own right — titans of the form who have shaped not just Japanese film but world cinema as a whole. But Japanese filmmaking doesn't begin and end with those household names. There is a rich, vibrant world of directors working today — and from decades past — whose work deserves far more attention than it typically gets. This is

Japanese cinema is one of the most influential and celebrated artistic landscapes in the world. From the black-and-white sword fights of the 1950s to the breathtaking animation of today, Japan has a unique way of capturing the human experience. If you’ve grown up watching Studio Ghibli or Naruto, you’ve already had a taste of Japanese culture. But if you’re looking to dive deeper into live-action films and don’t know where to start, this guide—inspired by A.M View—is your per

Koji Fukada's masterful 2016 film, Harmonium, re-imagines the Japanese family drama genre

As a huge Kore-eda fan, I'm embarrassed it took me over a year to watch his latest film, "Monster," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Fast forward to June 2024, and I finally saw one of 2023’s best films and possibly one of Kore-eda’s top three or five works. I need more time to fully process it before deciding its exact place in my Kore-eda ranking, but rest assured, a ranking is coming. This film marks Kore-eda’s long-awaited return to Japanese cinema and

Love Life is the latest film of one of my favorite contemporary Japanese directors, Koji Fukada. I was first introduced to Fukada in 2020 when I discovered the incredible film that is ‘Harmonium’ or 淵に立つ, Fuchi ni Tatsu in Japanese. That summer I found myself being drawn to the slow-burning fire of Japanese family dramas by filmmakers such as Hirokazu Koreeda and the legendary Yasujirō Ozu, eventually that newfound love would lead me to find ‘Harmonium’ on Amazon Prime with

Netflix has become a popular source for streaming movies and TV shows from all over the world. One country that has continued to produce entertaining content for the army of weebs, J-drama and cinema lovers to enjoy is Japan. With its unique culture and captivating storytelling, Japanese movies and TV shows have become increasingly popular on the streaming platform. In this video, we will explore some of the best Japanese movies and TV shows you can find on Netflix. All these